Chapter 673: Flowers

Upon regaining consciousness, Roxanne raised her head and saw Lucian beside her. A pang of undefined guilt pierced her heart. "Thank you..." she murmured.

He merely furrowed his brow, his grip on her wrist unwavering. She tried gently to free herself, but to no avail, drawing considerable attention. Under the colorful lights, they were a striking pair in their formal attire. His coat draped over her white dress, he held her wrist possessively; they resembled a prince and princess escaping some unseen peril.

"Sir," she began, intending to request his release, when a child's voice interrupted.

They stilled, their gazes drawn to the source. A girl in simple clothing stood before them, clutching a large bouquet, her expression innocent. Seeing them watching, she offered a sweet smile. "How about you buy a bouquet for her, sir?" she asked, lifting the flowers. "My flowers are very fresh and cheap! I swear!"

Lucian frowned, his intuition suggesting a scam. However, Roxanne was already kneeling, patting the child's head gently. "Are you selling these flowers by yourself, little girl?" she asked softly.

The child shook her head, holding the bouquet in one hand and pointing to a nearby stall. "Mommy's over there. I want Mommy to go home early."

Roxanne's heart softened. As she stood, reaching for her wallet, she realized it was in the car. She had no cash. The girl, sensing her interest, looked up expectantly.

Roxanne felt troubled. Lucian has money, she thought. If I ask, he'll certainly buy them. Yet, the thought triggered a memory—a past incident involving many roses—and hesitation bloomed, fearing Lucian's misinterpretation.

"No need to look," Lucian said, interrupting her internal debate.

Roxanne turned to see him already producing his wallet, his action swift while she hesitated. Without inquiring about the price, he extracted a stack of bills and gave them to the girl.

While wanting to help, Roxanne considered his generosity extravagant. Before she could intervene, the girl's small voice piped up, "This is too much! I only need this much!"

Carefully, the girl removed two bills, then presented the flowers to Roxanne with a radiant smile. "You can have these, Miss!" She placed them in Roxanne's arms, then ran back to her mother. The mother smiled her thanks from afar upon receiving the money. Roxanne returned the smile.

Only after the mother looked away did Roxanne's realization dawn: Did I... just receive flowers from him?